Man accused of hammer assault

A 47-year-old man facing charges for a hammer assault told police that the victim held a gun to his head.

Howard Lackey Jr. appeared in Yellowstone County Justice Court on Friday for a charge of assault with a weapon. Judge David A. Carter set his bond at $25,000.

An incident between Lackey and another man happened June 17, according to court documents. The man told police that Lackey first entered his Lake Elmo Drive home and threatened him with a machete.

The man claimed that Lackey demanded that he be able to smoke "dope" with his friends inside the man's home, the documents state.

On June 19, Lackey allegedly came at the man with a hammer and struck him on the face and hand. The man's hand was broken.

A day later, police interviewed Lackey. He told police that the man had put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger twice, according to court documents. Lackey said that the two men wrestled a bit and the gun fired, striking the couch.

Court documents said that Lackey did not comment on the alleged hammer assault or how the man sustained his injuries.

If Lackey posts bond, he will be required to wear a GPS monitoring device. He is scheduled to appear in Yellowstone County District Court on Dec. 24.